looking at an ecoboost couple of questions

Wes Tausend wrote:
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I can comment on the the electric axle locker only. It certainly won't hurt while towing, or otherwise, and will help if you happen to camp somewhere in dry weather and have to leave by driving through mud after a rain.

The older positrac/traction-lok clutch type axles were a nuisance on icy roads. Since they were engaged all the time, until they wore out their clutches, there was a tendency for the rear to suddenly slip sideways on an icy hill because the tires didn't slip at all until both could slip at once. This "surprise" has spun more than one vehicle into the ditch and I surmise, is the reason that safer, selective, speed de-selected, electric lock is now offered.

One wheel slipping, on non-locked differentials, at least allows good steering tracking and a warning to ease up on the throttle. You will notice that front locking has never been commonly offered OEM and, if you can imagine, is usually recommended against for the horror that can create in winter steering loss. I live in ice country, and owned both a car and truck with the tricky old rear locking systems. To me they weren't worth the repeated white-knuckle ice experience for the very few times I needed them off-road.

Wes
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You are exactly right Wes. I live north of you...similar weather...and I had a truck with a locker axle. Over the 10 years I had it...the locker made the whole vehicle slide out in a nano second....on a couple of occasions when I hit unseen glare ice. Those automatic lockers can be lethal in ice country.

The only locker I would get would be one where I had control of when it was switched on.

Les